O trabalho teve por finalidade pesquisar, quantitativamente, a ocorrência de aflatoxinas (B1, B2, G1, G2) e fumonisinas (B1 e B2) em alimentos industrializados à base de milho comercializadas nos municípios de Pirassununga, Porto Ferreira, Leme e Araras, Estado de São Paulo e milho em grão utilizado na fabricação de ração para animais de companhia (PET) coletado no município de Porto Ferreira, Estado de São Paulo. Para isto, foram colhidas, no período de setembro de 2006 a fevereiro de 2007, milho em grão, fubá e farinha de milho, pertencentes a quatro diferentes marcas comerciais, totalizando 72 amostras. Para ração animal, foram colhidas 24 diferentes amostras de milho em grão no período de março a junho/2008 de diferentes produtores rurais. A determinação de aflatoxinas e fumonisinas foi efetuada através de cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência (CLAE). Das 24 amostras comerciais analisadas, 23 de fubá (95,80%) e 20 de farinha de milho (83,30%), apresentaram concentração total de aflatoxinas abaixo de 5 µg/kg, apenas uma amostra de milho em grão (4,20%) apresentou níveis totais acima do permitido pelo legislação brasileira (20 µg/kg). Para fumonisinas, 47 amostras (65,30%) apresentaram níveis acima dos limites de detecção (30 µg/kg), sendo que 15 amostras de milho em grão (62,50%), 16 de farinha de milho (66,70%), e 15 de fubá (62,50%), apresentaram-se positivas para FB1. Em relação ao milho destinado à fabricação de ração animal, 100% das amostras analisadas apresentaram concentração total de aflatoxinas abaixo de 5 µg/kg e 100% apresentaram-se positivas para FB1. Os resultados do estudo foram utilizados para estimar o grau de exposição humana às aflatoxinas e fumonisinas, considerando as altas concentrações encontradas em produtos de milho e derivados comercializados na região de Pirassununga. / The objective of this study was to verify the occurrence of aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, G2) and fumonisins (B1 e B2) in industrialized foods made with corn commercially traded in the cities of Pirassununga, Porto Ferreira, Leme and Araras, state of São Paulo, and corn used for the manufacture feeds intended for pet feeding in Porto Ferreira City, São Paulo State. Seventy-two samples of corn kernels, corn meal and corn flour of four different commercial brands were collected from September 2006 to February 2007. In the case of pet feeding, 24 samples of corn kernels regarding different rural producers were collected from March to June 2008. Analysis of aflatoxins and fumonisins were accomplished by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). From 24 commercial samples analyzed, 23 of corn meal (95.80%) and 20 of corn flour (83.30%) showed total aflatoxins levels below 5 µg/kg, and only one sample of corn in grain (4.20%) with total aflatoxins concentration above the tolerance limit adopted by Brazilian regulations (20 µg/kg). As for fumonisins, 47 (65.30%) samples showed detectable levels (>30 µg/kg), being 15 samples of corn in grain (62.50%), 16 of corn flour (66.70%), and 15 of corn meal (62.50%) positive samples for FB1. In the case of corn used as ingredient for pet feeds, 100% of analyzed samples showed total aflatoxins levels below 5 µg/kg, and 100% were positive for FB1. The results of this study were used for estimation of the human exposure levels to aflatoxins and fumonisins, taking into account the high concentrations found in corn and corn-based products in the region of Pirassununga.

O aumento do consumo e a geração de resíduos e as novas propostas de desenvolvimento de conceitos e práticas de sustentabilidade fizeram com que a sociedade passasse a refletir sobre tais eventos, colocando em discussão o ciclo de vida dos produtos. Neste contexto, o conceito de logística reversa (LR) se desenvolveu, principalmente quanto ao aspecto econômico. Mas, sendo este conceito fundamentado ao da sustentabilidade, torna-se importante acompanhar as práticas, inclusive quanto aos efeitos sociais e ambientais. Atrelado a isso e a dois outros fatores: i) o fato de que alguns trabalhos identificaram que processos de LR nem sempre garantem melhorias econômicas para a empresa, sendo que o efeito econômico estava relacionado aos fatores intrínsecos do processo, e que ii) o Pet é um dos materiais de fácil acesso pela população, ocasionando um grande volume de resíduos de longa decomposição; o objetivo desta pesquisa foi identificar quais decisões sobre os fatores inerentes a um processo produtivo envolvendo LR de Ref Pet são capazes de impactar na sustentabilidade do mesmo. Neste sentido, a proposta volta-se para o desenvolvimento de um modelo que permita analisar os benefícios econômicos, sociais e ambientais, com base em informações do processo, de modo que a empresa possa acompanhar e melhorar o equilíbrio deste tripé em seu processo produtivo, buscando garantir ou identificar necessidades de mudanças para alcançar a sustentabilidade. O desenvolvimento do modelo deu-se por meio da revisão bibliográfica e do estudo exploratório realizado em uma indústria de refrigerantes, permitindo conhecer em detalhes o processo de logística reversa de Ref Pet. Esta etapa foi fundamental para a definição dos inputs, subindicadores e indicadores que formaram os três índices: econômico, social e ambiental. A transformação dos indicadores em índices ocorreu por meio da técnica de análise fatorial, sendo que, depois de finalizado o modelo procedeu-se com análise de sensibilidade, a qual permitiu identificar o fator intrínseco ao processo mais representativo para cada índice. Demonstrou-se que, com este modelo a empresa pode simular cenários de decisão, identificando o impacto que eles trarão para a sustentabilidade do processo produtivo, uma vez que é permitido identificar qual a sensibilidade de cada índice frente aos fatores inerentes ao processo. Assim, a empresa pode tomar decisões visando o equilíbrio econômico, social e ambiental em seu negócio buscando ações para mantê-lo, exercendo papel importante na sociedade. Portanto, o modelo proposto pode auxiliar uma empresa na identificação do impacto de seu processo de logística reversa nos três índices, acompanhando a evolução e tomando medidas para melhorá-los. Ademais, permite analisar a sensibilidade da sustentabilidade do processo quando das variações dos inputs. Finalmente, o estudo traz detalhamentos sobre as especificidades de um processo de logística reversa de Ref PET, capaz de contribuir para a literatura e para os próximos estudos nesta linha. / The increased consumption, and waste generation, and the new proposals of development concepts, and sustainability practices have caused society to reflect about these events, inciting discussions regarding the life cycle of these products. In this context, the reverse logistics concept (RL) was developed referring mainly to the economic aspect. But, considering that the RL concept is based on sustainability, it is important to monitor the practices including those that concern social and environmental effects. Connecting to this and to two other factors: i) the fact that some studies have identified that RL processes does not always guarantee economic improvements for the company, whereas economic effect was related to intrinsic factors in the process, and ii) Pet is easily accessible by the population, resulting in large amounts of long decomposition waste; the objective of this research was to identify which decisions regarding inherent factors in the production process involving RL Returnable PET Bottles can impact sustainability. In this sense, the proposal is aimed to the development of a model to analyze the economic, social and environmental benefits, based on information from the process, so that the company can monitor and improve the balance of this tripod in its production process, seeking to guarantee or identify changing needs to achieve sustainability. The development of the model occurred by means of literature review and exploratory study in a soft drink industry, which allowed knowing in detail the process of Returnable PET Bottles involving RL. This step was fundamental in order to define the inputs, indicators and sub-indicators that formed the three indices: economic, social and environmental. The transformation of the indicators into indices was obtained by applying technique of factor analysis, and, after the finalization of the model, sensitivity analysis was conducted, which allowed identifying the most representative intrinsic factor in the process for each index. Therefore, demonstrating with this model that the company can simulate scenarios for decision, identifying the impact they will bring upon the sustainability of the production process. Since it is possible to identify the sensitivity of each index compared to the inherent factors in the process. Thereby, the company can take decisions seeking economic, social and environmental balance in their business, seeking actions to maintain, performing an important role in society. Thus, the proposed model can assist a company in identifying the impact of their reverse logistics process in the three indices, monitoring the evolution and taking steps to improve them. Furthermore, the model allows analyzing the sensitivity of the sustainability of the process in the case of input variations. Finally, the study brings more details on the specific characteristics of a Reverse Logistics process of Returnable PET Bottles, contributing to the literature and future studies in this research line.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-12T17:38:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 arquivo3891_1.pdf: 7362834 bytes, checksum: e06eae7c6f1fdca4d9f909561d397e4b (MD5) license.txt: 1748 bytes, checksum: 8a4605be74aa9ea9d79846c1fba20a33 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Em alguns processos industriais e de condicionamento de ar há a necessidade do resfriamento de equipamentos que geram certa quantidade de calor durante sua operação. O fluido geralmente utilizado para dissipar esse calor gerado é a água, devido às suas características físicas (alto calor especifico, baixa viscosidade, alta condutividade térmica e alta densidade), além da facilidade de obtenção, baixo custo e além de sua atoxidade. Uma Torre de Resfriamento de água é um equipamento que utiliza processos de evaporação e transferência de calor para resfriar a água, a qual é aspergida sobre um enchimento que tem a finalidade de aumentar a área de contato entre o ar e a água. Os materiais comumente empregados nos enchimentos de torres de resfriamento são os sarrafos de madeira, plástico e a fibra de vidro. O tipo de enchimento influencia bastante no preço de uma torre de resfriamento, podendo ser responsável por até 40% do custo total de uma torre. Nesta dissertação, o enfoque é dado na avaliação de enchimentos de fios e gargalos de garrafas PET, com as seguintes configurações: dois arranjos para fios e dois arranjos de gargalos. Os resultados foram comparados com dois enchimentos comerciais, fabricados pela ALPINA: o enchimento industrial do tipo corrugação vertical off-set e o enchimento de grades trapezoidais. Foi construído um protótipo de uma torre de resfriamento em contracorrente e analisados os efeitos da temperatura de entrada da água, da vazão de ar e da vazão de água sobre a eficiência da torre, para os tipos de enchimento acima citados. Os resultados indicam que os enchimentos testados apresentaram resultados satisfatórios para serem utilizados como enchimentos de torres de resfriamento. Uma simulação numérica através do software EES (Engineering Equation Solver) foi conduzida mostrando boa concordância com os dados experimentais

O trabalho teve por finalidade pesquisar, quantitativamente, a ocorrência de aflatoxinas (B1, B2, G1, G2) e fumonisinas (B1 e B2) em alimentos industrializados à base de milho comercializadas nos municípios de Pirassununga, Porto Ferreira, Leme e Araras, Estado de São Paulo e milho em grão utilizado na fabricação de ração para animais de companhia (PET) coletado no município de Porto Ferreira, Estado de São Paulo. Para isto, foram colhidas, no período de setembro de 2006 a fevereiro de 2007, milho em grão, fubá e farinha de milho, pertencentes a quatro diferentes marcas comerciais, totalizando 72 amostras. Para ração animal, foram colhidas 24 diferentes amostras de milho em grão no período de março a junho/2008 de diferentes produtores rurais. A determinação de aflatoxinas e fumonisinas foi efetuada através de cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência (CLAE). Das 24 amostras comerciais analisadas, 23 de fubá (95,80%) e 20 de farinha de milho (83,30%), apresentaram concentração total de aflatoxinas abaixo de 5 µg/kg, apenas uma amostra de milho em grão (4,20%) apresentou níveis totais acima do permitido pelo legislação brasileira (20 µg/kg). Para fumonisinas, 47 amostras (65,30%) apresentaram níveis acima dos limites de detecção (30 µg/kg), sendo que 15 amostras de milho em grão (62,50%), 16 de farinha de milho (66,70%), e 15 de fubá (62,50%), apresentaram-se positivas para FB1. Em relação ao milho destinado à fabricação de ração animal, 100% das amostras analisadas apresentaram concentração total de aflatoxinas abaixo de 5 µg/kg e 100% apresentaram-se positivas para FB1. Os resultados do estudo foram utilizados para estimar o grau de exposição humana às aflatoxinas e fumonisinas, considerando as altas concentrações encontradas em produtos de milho e derivados comercializados na região de Pirassununga. / The objective of this study was to verify the occurrence of aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, G2) and fumonisins (B1 e B2) in industrialized foods made with corn commercially traded in the cities of Pirassununga, Porto Ferreira, Leme and Araras, state of São Paulo, and corn used for the manufacture feeds intended for pet feeding in Porto Ferreira City, São Paulo State. Seventy-two samples of corn kernels, corn meal and corn flour of four different commercial brands were collected from September 2006 to February 2007. In the case of pet feeding, 24 samples of corn kernels regarding different rural producers were collected from March to June 2008. Analysis of aflatoxins and fumonisins were accomplished by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). From 24 commercial samples analyzed, 23 of corn meal (95.80%) and 20 of corn flour (83.30%) showed total aflatoxins levels below 5 µg/kg, and only one sample of corn in grain (4.20%) with total aflatoxins concentration above the tolerance limit adopted by Brazilian regulations (20 µg/kg). As for fumonisins, 47 (65.30%) samples showed detectable levels (>30 µg/kg), being 15 samples of corn in grain (62.50%), 16 of corn flour (66.70%), and 15 of corn meal (62.50%) positive samples for FB1. In the case of corn used as ingredient for pet feeds, 100% of analyzed samples showed total aflatoxins levels below 5 µg/kg, and 100% were positive for FB1. The results of this study were used for estimation of the human exposure levels to aflatoxins and fumonisins, taking into account the high concentrations found in corn and corn-based products in the region of Pirassununga.

Submitted by PPG Medicina e Ci?ncias da Sa?de (medicina-pg@pucrs.br) on 2018-12-11T14:10:12Z No. of bitstreams: 1 KARINA NIQUE FRANZ SILBERMANN.pdf: 24305952 bytes, checksum: 2707c9d644d7f53ccbd72659a1adda31 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Sheila Dias (sheila.dias@pucrs.br) on 2018-12-13T18:40:06Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 KARINA NIQUE FRANZ SILBERMANN.pdf: 24305952 bytes, checksum: 2707c9d644d7f53ccbd72659a1adda31 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-12-13T19:18:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 KARINA NIQUE FRANZ SILBERMANN.pdf: 24305952 bytes, checksum: 2707c9d644d7f53ccbd72659a1adda31 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-08-27 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior - CAPES / The equipment and processes used in nuclear medicine must be included in a quality control program that includes a series of tests and calibrations following the frequency established by current standards, which are based on international institutions protocols. The capability of anthropomorphic simulators mimic realistic situations are widely appointed to gauge essential data that guarantee the quality in medical generating processes. The purpose of this study was developing a cerebral anthropomorphic phantom for image simulation of ictal activity in nuclear medicine with 18F, PET-CT. It was made in an industrial printer with SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) technology, 4mm thick, using nylon 12. The model was segmented from a magnetic resonance study of a 40-year-old female adult. Two 40 nm thickness metal (Ag) electrodes were inserted in the right frontal lobe region to simulate ictal activity. For the images acquisition, the phantom was filled with distillated water and the 18F radioisotope. The images were acquired in PET-CT equipment with specific protocol for tomographic and dynamic cerebral studies. Images from the simulator without the insertion of the electrodes were acquired as pattern (basal), also were acquired images from the simulator with the electrodes and without electric field application, and the simulator with electric field application. The images were compared through SUV maximum values and uptake index. The non-parametric Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test was used as statistic approach, considering the three image conditions as independent groups. There was significant difference amongst the groups, being p < 0,001 when compared the average SUV maximum values by slices in the situations: basal x with electric field, and basal x without electric field, p = 0,129 when compared situations with electric field x without electric field, suggesting that this difference is not significant. All the groups presented significant differences for the uptake indexes obtained, being p < 0,001 in the situations basal x with electric field and basal x without electric field. The TAC (time-activity-curve) curves were obtained in A PET-CT dynamic protocol to demonstrate the 18F uptake in time, in the conditions with electric field and without electric field. The images were subtracted through SISCOM, using the basal condition as reference. The values found for p (SUV and uptake index) are compatible. The SISCOM histograms demonstrate differences for the three image comparisons. Although there are gradual raise of 18F uptake in time obtained in TAC evaluation for both with and without electric field conditions, the highest uptake visualized was when the electric field is applied. The anthropomorphic phantom developed is capable of simulating compatible zones with ictal activity, however the material used as resin in the electrodes must be modified so that the product may be commercialized in the future. / Os equipamentos e processos utilizados em medicina nuclear devem estar inclu?dos em um programa de controle de qualidade, o que inclui uma s?rie de testes e calibra??es com periodicidade estabelecida pelas normas vigentes, baseadas nos protocolos de institui??es internacionais. Os simuladores antropom?rficos, pela sua capacidade de mimetizar situa??es real?sticas, s?o amplamente empregados para aferir dados essenciais que garantam a qualidade nos processos geradores de imagens m?dicas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi desenvolver um phantom antropom?rfico cerebral para simula??o de imagens de atividade ictal em medicina nuclear, utilizando metodologia PET com Fl?or-18 (18F). O phantom foi confeccionado em impressora industrial com tecnologia SLS (Selective Laser Sintering), de espessura de 4 mm, utilizando como mat?ria prima nylon 12. O modelo foi segmentado a partir de um estudo de resson?ncia magn?tica de um adulto normal, do sexo feminino, com 40 anos. Para a simula??o de atividade ictal foram inseridos, na regi?o correspondente ao lobo frontal direito, dois eletrodos met?licos constitu?dos de filme fino de 40 nm de prata (Ag). Para a aquisi??o das imagens, o modelo foi preenchido com ?gua destilada e com o radiois?topo 18F. As imagens foram adquiridas em equipamento de PET-CT com protocolo espec?fico para estudos cerebrais tomogr?fico e din?mico. Foram adquiridas imagens: (1) simulador sem a inser??o dos eletrodos (padr?o/basal), (2) simulador com eletrodos sem aplica??o de campo el?trico e (3) simulador com os eletrodos e aplica??o de campo el?trico. As imagens foram comparadas entre si atrav?s dos valores de SUV m?ximo e do ?ndice de capta??o. A abordagem estat?stica utilizada considerou as tr?s condi??es de imagens como grupos independentes e o teste n?o param?trico de Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney foi aplicado. Houve diferen?a significativa entre os grupos, sendo o valor de p < 0,001 quando comparados os valores de m?dia de SUV m?ximo por corte nas situa??es basal x sem campo el?trico e basal x com campo el?trico. Na compara??o sem campo el?trico x com campo el?trico, o valor de p = 0,129 indica que a diferen?a entre os grupos n?o ? significativa. Quando avaliado o ?ndice de capta??o entre os grupos, todas as condi??es apresentaram diferen?a significativa, sendo p < 0,001 para os grupos basal x sem campo el?trico e basal x com campo el?trico, e p = 0,0123 na compara??o sem campo el?trico x com campo el?trico. As curvas TAC (time-activity-curve) foram adquiridas para demonstrar a capta??o de 18F no tempo, nas condi??es com campo el?trico e sem campo el?trico, em estudo din?mico de PET-CT. As imagens foram subtra?das atrav?s da metodologia SISCOM, utilizando a condi??o basal como refer?ncia. Os valores encontrados para p, tanto para SUV como para ?ndice de capta??o, s?o compat?veis com os achados visualizados nas imagens obtidas. Os histogramas gerados com a metodologia SISCOM demonstram que h? diferen?as entre as tr?s condi??es de imagem. As curvas TAC tra?adas correspondem ao aumento gradativo da concentra??o 18F no tempo, embora exista este aumento nas condi??es sem campo e com campo, obtivemos a maior concentra??o quando o sistema est? sob efeito do campo el?trico. O phantom antropom?rfico desenvolvido ? capaz de simular zonas an?logas ?s de imagens de atividade ictal, por?m o material utilizado como resina nos eletrodos deve ser modificado para que o produto possa ser comercializado futuramente.

Background: Lewy body dementia (LBD), consisting of Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), is known to make up more than 15% of dementia cases at autopsy, however the clinical prevalence rate is reported to be much lower at around 5-6%. Difficulties with diagnosis and/or lack of specific treatments may contribute to this difference. This study investigated the diagnosis and management pathways of LBD and whether inflammation could play a role in the pathophysiology and hence provide a route for future diagnostic and treatment pathways. Methods: Clinical diagnostic rates of LBD in clinics across several NHS trusts in East Anglia were reviewed, followed by an in-depth notes review of patients identified with LBD together with age and gender matched controls. A literature review of the current evidence for inflammation in LBD, preceded a case control study to investigate further. Nineteen DLB patients together with 16 age and gender matched healthy controls underwent [11C]PK11195 PET imaging, and the same cohorts, plus an additional 10 matched control subjects underwent peripheral cytokine analysis. Results: The clinical prevalence rate of LBD was low compared to the known pathology rates, with delays identified in the diagnosis of DLB compared to other dementia subtypes. Delays were also seen between the onset of dementia symptoms and the clinical diagnosis of dementia in Parkinson's disease (PD). The literature review identified studies providing evidence of inflammation in PD but few studies had been carried out in DLB. PET imaging revealed microglial activation negatively correlated with disease severity in DLB, suggesting inflammation occurs early in the disease. DLB patients also showed evidence of differences in cytokine levels compared to healthy controls. Conclusion: The study showed evidence of inflammatory changes in DLB, providing a potential target for treatment and/or biomarkers, that could assist in increasing clinical diagnostic rates.

Emerging evidence indicates that 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) and computed tomography (CT) are useful imaging modalities for evaluating tumor progression in transgenic mouse models of solid human cancers, but the potential of integrated FDG-PET/CT for assessing tumor development in genetically engineered mouse models of liquid human cancers - including neoplasms of immunoglobulin (Ig)-producing plasma cells - has not been established. Here we use a double-transgenic strain of laboratory mice, designated C.IL6Myc, that recapitulates key features of human plasma cell myeloma (a.k.a. multiple myeloma [MM]) to demonstrate that FDG-PET/CT affords a useful research tool for assessing plasma cell tumor (PCT) development in a serial, objective and, importantly, stage- and lesion-specific manner. Supported by serum biomarker analyses (Ig level, paraprotein) and histopathological findings in C.IL6Myc mice undergoing PCT development, the newly generated FDG-PET/CT data set demonstrates the potential of this imaging modality for preclinical basic and translational MM research. PET imaging of genetically engineered mice in which MM-like tumors arise predictably in an intact immunocompetent microenvironment may facilitate the design and testing of new approaches to the treatment and prevention of MM in humans.

For radiation treatment of cancer and image-based quantitative assessment of treatment response, target structures like tumors and lymph nodes need to be segmented. In current clinical practice, this is done manually, which is time consuming and error-prone. To address this issue, a semi-automated graph-based segmentation approach was developed. It was validated with 60 real datasets, segmented by two users manually and with this new algorithm, and 44 scans of a phantom dataset. The results showed a statistically significant improvement in intra- and interoperator consistency of segmentations, a statistically significant improvement in speed of segmentation, and reasonable accuracy against consensus images and phantoms. As such, the algorithm can be applied in cases that otherwise would use manual segmentation.

ABSTRACT Injection stretch blow moulded PET bottles are the most widely used container type for carbonated soft drinks. PET offers excellent clarity, good mechanical and barrier properties, and ease of processing. Typically, these bottles have a petaloid-shaped base, which gives good stability to the bottle and it is the most appropriate one for beverage storage. However, the base is prone to environmentally induced stress cracking and this a major concern to bottle manufacturers. The object of this study is to explain the occurrence of stress cracking, and to prevent it by optimising both the geometry of the petaloid base and the processing parameters during bottle moulding. A finite element model of the petaloid shape is developed in CATIA V5 R14, and used to predict the von Mises stress in the bottle base for different combinations of three key dimensions of the base: foot length, valley width, and clearance. The combination of dimensions giving the minimum stress is found by a statistical analysis approach using an optimisation and design of experiments software package ECHIP-7. A bottle mould was manufactured according to the optimum base geometry and PET bottles are produced by injection stretch blow moulding (ISBM). In order to minimise the stresses at the bottom of the bottle, the ISBM process parameters were reviewed and the effects of both the stretch rod movement and the temperature profile of the preform were studied by means of the process simulation software package (Blow View version 8.2). Simulated values of the wall thickness, stress, crystallinity, molecular orientation and biaxial ratio in the bottle base were obtained. The process parameters, which result in low stress and uniform material in the bottle base, are regarded as optimum operating conditions. In the evaluation process of the optimum bottle base, bottles with standard (current) and optimized (new) base were produced under the same process conditions via a two-stage ISBM machine. In order to compare both the bottles, environmental stress crack resistance, top load strength, burst pressure strength, thermal stability test as well as crystallinity studies ¬¬¬via modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC) and morphology studies via environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) and optical microscopy were conducted. In this study carried out, the new PET bottle with the optimised base significantly decreased the environmental stress cracking occurrence in the bottom of the bottle. It is found that the bottle with optimised base is stronger than the bottle with standard base against environmental stress cracking. The resistance time against environmental stress cracking are increased by about % 90 under the same operating process conditions used for standard (current) bottles; and by % 170 under the optimised process conditions where the preform re-heating temperature is set to 105 oC.

<p>In this thesis, a two-dimensional pixel-wise deconvolution method for partial volume correction (PVC) for combined Positron Emission Tomography and Computer Tomography (PET/CT) imaging has been developed. The method is based on Van Cittert's deconvolution algorithm and includes a noise reduction method based on adaptive smoothing and median filters. Furthermore, a technique to take into account the position dependent PET point spread function (PSF) and to reduce ringing artifacts is also described. The quantitative and qualitative performance of the proposed PVC algorithm was evaluated using phantom experiments with varying object size, background and noise level. PVC results in an increased activity recovery as well as image contrast enhancement. However, the quantitative performance of the algorithm is impaired by the presence of background activity and image noise. When applying the correction on clinical PET images, the result was an increase in standardized uptake values, up to 98% for small tumors in the lung. These results suggest that the PVC described in this work significantly improves activity recovery without producing excessive amount of ringing artifacts and noise amplification. The main limitations of the algorithm are the restriction to two dimensions and the lack of regularization constraints based on anatomical information from the co-registered CT images.</p>